Clothes Dryer

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Clean dry clothes at the touch of a button, no running around to hang clothes for drying is a reality if you own clothes dryer. A clothes dryer not only saves you the bother of getting the clothes dried but also aids in getting rid of the lingering wetness from garments and other fabrics. Find out about different kinds of outdoor clothes dryers.

Clothes dryer

The first type of clothes dryer was a ventilator; with a barrel-shaped metal drum with holes in it. It was turned over a fire by human hands. George.T.Sampson, in the year 1892 received the first ever patent for the clothes dryer. The year 1915 saw the invention of electric clothes dryer that came with built-in features such as electronic sensors that could sense when the clothes were dry.

Heated air is circulated from the rotating drum that is commonly present in most of the dryers. The heated air aids removal of moisture from the clothes as a result of evaporation. A tumbling effect is created by rotating the drum slowly and is driven by a belt-driven induction motor. Centrifugal force is employed in spin dryers to take out water from the clothes and is proven to be an efficient energy saver. Of-course the most efficient clothes dryer is the outdoor model.

Clothes are held in a rotating tumbler.

A heater that is either gas or electric powered heats the air and as the clothes tumble this air is drawn through them. The heated air heats up the clothes and the water in the clothes.

The heated water passes out of the dryer through the exhaust vent in the form of vapor and the exhaust vent in turn passes out of the house.

The capacity of the clothes drier is determined over the number of clothes the drier tub can hold. To dry bulky clothes with minimal wrinkles you can use the larger size clothes dryer. There are households that constantly move the dryers, for such kind the smaller size clothes dryer will be very useful.

Types of Clothes dryers

Gas dryer: Natural gas, propane or butane is burnt via a gas burner to form a jet of hot gas that is directed into a venture chamber. Using Bernoulli's principle, this chamber draws ambient air and elevates the temperature. By varying the size of the gas flame or by just turning off and relighting the flame the air temperature can be altered. They are a little more expensive when compared to electric dryers but are cheaper to operate.

Spin dryer: Water is extracted from the clothes by employing centrifugal force. This removes extra water in about two minutes when compared to a gas dryer that takes twenty minutes. Bu the clothes do not get completely dry the clothes and have to be strung on a clothesline.

Electric dryer: This kind of dryer commonly uses a coiled wire that is heated up using electric current, depending on the air temperature required the heat can be varied. Such clothes dryers run on 240V current.

Condenser dryer: This is an electric dryer with no vent. A dehumidifier, in this case a heat pump is used to remove the wetness. When compared to vented dryers, these dryers have a longer drying time owing to lower operating temperatures. Their capacity is low. The dryer is combined with the washing machine in most of the models.

Clothes dryer tips

To achieve maximum drying, lint filter has to be cleaned subsequent to every drying.

Vent should be placed outside the house and never forget to clean it at least once a year and take care that the vent doesn't get clogged.

Items such as crayons need to be removed as this will melt as heat begins in the clothes dryer.

Solvents and wax items should never be put to dry as this may cause fire.

The biggest challenge and enemy any clothes dryer has to face is rust, so keep your dryer free of it.

The hot and cold water pipes should not be linked.

Ensure washer is in place.

After use, leave the lid open so that the moisture evaporates from the tub.

If the dryer exteriors are soiled, use a damp cloth to wipe off the grime. Take care not to spill any laundry product on the dryer as they contain harsh chemicals. For the interiors use a mild soap solution if required.

Choosing the right clothes dryer

Choose the right drum capacity according to your requirements and usage. The usual size is between 5 and 7 cubic feet for full size and 3 cubic feet for compact types.

There are vent-less models but your local code might not allow you to use one for safety reasons.

Look for lint filters that can be cleaned with ease. A sturdier and wider lint filter helps in capturing lint better.

Cycle time ranges are usually the same for most of the machines, ranging from short cycles to long cycles.

You can look for additional features such as number of heat settings. This helps in choosing the right temperature for the clothes on a day to day basis. Heavy clothes and synthetics require different settings.

Look for heat-free cycle in clothes dryer so as to avoid damage to foam pillows and plastic shower curtains.

Compare energy efficiency of different electric clothes dryers to select one that suits you best. Permapress option allows the last cycle to function with cool air so as to save energy.

There are a host of options ranging from adjustable timer to sensors that check if the clothes are dry.

Outdoor clothes dryer

The whole world is speaking the same language, the language of energy saving. Electric or gas clothes dryers are easy to handle and get your job done quickly but in pleasant weather where the sky is bright, the sunshine is sufficient for your clothes to dry the natural way – outdoor. You save not only on the energy but give your clothes the well-deserved break from all the tumbling they have to go through otherwise.

The clothes dryer can be placed right under the warm sunshine.

Balconies and porches come handy for clothes dryer.

Place double lines to hang small clothes, just below the main line, a line can be used to dry small clothes.

Wrinkles can be easily removed by shaking them in the air and then hanging the garment. Hangers can be used to dry shirts and collared items on the line.

Nylon net bags can be used to dry hosiery and lingerie by hanging it on the line.

Heavy items can be put on the ends to avoid sagging.

There is no question of static cling with this dryer as clothes do not rub against each other.

Outdoor clothes dryers come in many options - retractable clothes dryer, umbrella clothes dryer, clothes line T-post, mini clothes dryer and parallel aluminum or steel dryer. You can pick up outdoor clothes dryers in aluminum or wood. Retractable clothes line reels are ideal for small areas, starved of space.